Kyu Sakamoto (坂本 九, Sakamoto Kyū, born Hisashi Oshima (大島九, Ōshima Hisashi), December 10, 1941 - August 12, 1985) was a very popular Japanese singer and actor.
His most popular song, Ue o muite arukō ("I look up when I walk") was popular in Japan and the United States. Released by Capitol Records in the US as Sukiyaki (Capitol 4945), it topped the Billboard pop charts in the United States for three weeks in 1963 -- to date the only song sung entirely in Japanese to do so. The lyrics were written by Rokusuke Ei and the melody was composed by Hachidai Nakamura. The lyrics tell the story of a man who looks up and whistles while he is walking so that his tears won't fall. The verses of the song describe him doing this through each season of the year.
It's a great song, great performance!
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